Apple Unveils watchOS 26 with Liquid Glass Design, Workout Buddy, and More

Apple has announced it's upcoming watchOS update at WWDC 2025, and like it's other operating systems this year, this year's iteration will be called watchOS 26. The update brings Apple's new Liquid Glass design language, improvements to the workout app, a new AI buddy, and improvements to Smart Stack. Here's everything you need to know.

With the new Liquid Glass design, the Apple Watch will adopt translucent backgrounds and floating elements across the OS including the Action Centre, Smart Stacks, Photo watch face, and Notifications. It's the biggest revamp Apple Watches has ever received.

However, the star of the show is the new Workout Buddy. It almost feels like a personal assistant that will motivate users by dictating their progress during a workout. It analyses health metrics and pushes notifications to help users stay motivated. Once done with a workout, it will congratulate and give users meaningful insights about the workout.

The Workout app is receiving a few new changes, including a better layout. There are now buttons in the corners of the app to make it easier to navigate everything from your custom workouts to goals and Pacer. Additionally, the app adds Apple Music media integration, selects and plays playlists or podcasts based on their previous workout listening history.

The Messages app on watchOS 26 will now translate texts in real-time. Apple calls it Live Translation, and they will be coming to Apple Watch 9 and above watches with an Apple-intelligence supported phone. Messages also gets better smart replies and generates contextual suggestions. For example, if a friend asks you where you are, Messages will give users a Find My-powered Share Location pill.

Then there's the Notes app coming to watchOS 26, allowing users to access their synced notes right from their wrists. Besides, Apple Watches are getting new flick gestures which they can use to dismiss notifications, incoming calls, and silence alarms and timers. 

A small but notable improvement is that the Apple Watch now gauges the ambient sound around a user to automatically adjust the incoming notification or call volume. Finally, Apple's supercharging Smart Stack with its new UI and an improved algorithm to show more contextual, sensor and routine data. Besides, features like Hold Assist and Call Screening will also be coming to watchOS 26.

watchOS 26 and its new features are currently available for beta testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program. It will be available for the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Watch Series 6 or later and all Watch Ultra models, provided they're paired to an iPhone 11 or newer devices, running iOS 26.